Bench & Bar July/August 2025

PRESIDENT'S PAGE

ABOUT THE PRESIDENT TODD V. MCMURTRY , is a member with Hemmer Wessels McMurtry PLLC, where he represents individuals and businesses in complex litigation matters including defamation/social media law, business dis putes, professional negligence, land use, real estate, and construction-related dis putes in the Ohio and Kentucky courts. His defamation practice is nationwide. He is a nationally recognized attorney, who has spoken on national television and radio on the topics of defamation and social media law. McMurtry is an active member of the community having served on the KBA Board of Governors since 2017. In 2013, he was elected president of the Northern Kentucky Bar Association. He served for four years as a City Council member for the City of Ft. Wright, Ky. He resides in Covington, Ky., with his wife. He has three adult children and three grandchildren. He is a member of the Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Kentucky, and American Bar associations. McMurtry received his B.A. from Centre College and his J.D. from Salmon P. Chase College of Law.

THIRD, PROACTIVE RULE DEVEL OPMENT. We must propose necessary regulatory changes to ensure that Natural Intelligence remains the ultimate authority over AI tools. I cannot tell you today what those changes are, but I will recommend to the board of governors that it make an evaluation of AI’s progress a regular agenda item. As well, the board of governors should seek regular input from the KBA’s Artificial Intelligence Task Force. This transformation presents both profound challenges and remarkable opportunities. AI can liberate us from routine tasks, allow ing us to focus on higher-level strategic thinking, client counseling, and creative problem-solving. It can make legal services more accessible and efficient, potentially addressing the access-to-justice gap that has long plagued our profession. However, realizing these benefits requires that we approach AI as a tool to be mas tered, not a force to be feared or ignored. As my son recommended to me, we must learn to collaborate with artificial intelligence to be even better attorneys.

The future of legal practice will be shaped by how well we navigate this transition. Those who embrace AI thoughtfully and ethically will thrive. Those who ignore it may lose the economic competition to a human paired with AI, who together provide better, faster, and more affordable legal services. My goals for this term are practical: estab lish a consistent flow of information to keep Kentucky lawyers current on AI develop ments, offer AI education consistently through our continuing legal education pro gramming, help the Artificial Intelligence Task Force stay on top of recommendations about ethical AI use, and work with vendors to provide access to the most effective AI tools. And all of this should have the regular attention of the board of governors. The journey ahead requires courage, curi osity, and commitment to the fundamental values that make our profession essential to justice. My father's generation adapted to technological change while maintain ing their dedication to serving clients and upholding the law. Now it's our turn to do the same, ensuring that artificial intelligence serves justice rather than supplanting it.

The Kentucky Bar Association has selected LexisNexis ® as its trusted AI provider , becoming one of the first bar associations to endorse Lexis+ AI ® .

KBA members now have access to: • An Exclusive AI Resource Page: A curated hub of practical tools, timely insights, and educational content. • Discounted Lexis+ AI: Trusted legal technology to ensure members can leverage AI with the highest standards of quality and reliability.

Access the member benefit today. Visit law.lexisnexis.com/KBA

4 july/august 2025